Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 4 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics pays
Career outlook for Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates
The job market for the occupations Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | 1,094,500 | -1.6% | $64,580 | Bachelor's degree |
| Interpreters and translators | 75,300 | +1.7% | $59,440 | Bachelor's degree |
| Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary | 26,400 | -0.2% | $77,010 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics vs similar majors
How Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics stacks up against the closest fields in Foreign Languages & Linguistics on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Foreign Languages & Linguistics · this major | Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 52 C | 83 A | 39 D | 36 D |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Break-even | Break-even |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $62,032 | $77,090 | $57,407 | $55,503 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $50,308 | $48,355 | $34,944 | $34,577 |
| ROI vs cost | +114% | +305% | +54% | +32% |
| Typical debt | $21,161 | $20,000 | $22,920 | $20,355 |
| Colleges offering it | 4 | 2 | 4 | 234 |
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI | Associate's | $93,550 | $23,773 | +842% | Strong return |
| 2 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | Associate's | $56,238 | — | +303% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | Associate's | $55,147 | $17,959 | +209% | Strong return |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC | Associate's | $43,194 | $21,750 | -147% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.